Reggie Ferguson: Another year ended with the public’s needs not met

The event involved speakers from five main parties outlining their party’s position on the SOAS campaign, and answering searching questions from the facilitator, Alan Rodgers, a prominent local journalist from the Ulster Herald Group.

Considering the time of year, there was a very healthy attendance from the public, and thousands of people joined in online to watch proceedings.

For nearly two hours the politicians were subjected to a very rigorous examination of what their parties had and had not done.

The best parts of that event were when the public asked their own questions, and there were several people who set out in graphic detail the additional trauma their families had been subjected to because of the decisions management of the Western Trust.

The worry and concern were palpable. At the end of the night, two stark things emerged – firstly, that it was now 12 months since the Trust had taken the decision to terminate emergency surgery at the SWAH, and secondly, despite everything that had been done by the campaign, nothing had changed.

In addition, the elected representatives admitted that other than complain and explain, there was nothing they could do to get the Trust to change its mind.

And there lies the reality of life in Northern Ireland. It is the negation of democracy.

For a positive note in all of this, the Medical Graduate School commenced in 2021 in Derry to train 70 doctors and paramedics.

Surely some of them can be persuaded to come to our green and pleasant land to work, live and play?

As I said on the night, everything that we predicted has come to pass. There is even more reason for the adoption of the positive approach by SOAS and its five-point plan endorsed by more than 30,000 members of our community.

The Western Trust do not want – and neither has it the capacity – to effectively run the area of the old Sperrin-Lakeland Trust.

A smaller, more dynamic and efficient Trust is the answer, with perhaps a Chief Executive who is answerable for its performance.

SOAS believe there are real possibilities to increase the facilities and the capacity of the SWAH by engaging with health authorities in the Republic, who would invest financially in the hospital in return for providing citizens from the Republic with medical care to reduce waiting lists.

Dr. Gabriel Scally, a prominent epidemiologist from Belfast, oversaw an inquiry into the Cervical Smear test programme in the Republic after many complaints and real harm being done to women there who tragically lost their lives, having received incorrect and positive results.

Northern Ireland now faces its own crisis where 17,500 tests carried out by the Southern Trust are being rechecked.

Dr. Scally has described the cosy cartel running Health in Northern Ireland as a “club” who are not sufficiently accountable or challenged to provide effective leadership and, as a result, the population suffers.

The story of ineptitude and mismanagement, a lack of accountability, or people promoted beyond their capacity is endemic in Northern Ireland.

The appointment of Peter O’Reilly as Chief Fire Officer in Northern Ireland in September, 2021, was warmly welcomed by Robin Swann MLA.

No mention at the time by politicians or Press about Mr. O’Reilly’s previous job in Manchester when he was responsible for responding to the terrorist bomb in the Manchester Arena, and due to his caution, fire officers took over two hours to attend the scene.

He was severely criticised by a subsequent enquiry. How on earth then did he get a job here, and then resigned six months later?

And what about our district councils who we fund through rates? How are they performing?

As an observation, they are not exactly over-burdened with work. Apart from taking on planning, the range of their functions is very limited, very expensive, over-manned and, in comparison to councils in the Republic, England, Wales and Scotland, quite unchallenging.

Monaghan Council, for example, also looks after Roads, Housing and Education.

In Northern Ireland, these functions are carried out by a series of Civil Service bodies, which really have not delivered for the public.

The DFI, for example, was the lead body in dealing with the ARUP All-Island Rail Review.

As readers will be aware, this review recommended that railways should be extended into every county – except Fermanagh.

It must be concluded that the DFI recommended to ARUP and to our neighbouring country that Fermanagh should be excluded. With friends like that, who needs enemies?

Nearer to home, what is our Council doing to look after our needs? As I have previously written, since amalgamation with Omagh, the numbers employed have risen considerably.

The salaries paid to the Chief Executive and mind-challenging positions such as ‘Director of Place’ are very handsome indeed.

What has it achieved for its citizens? Not a lot, I would say.

Despite having increased rates in every year, it has not delivered.

It has cancelled firework displays and disappointed children. It has cut funding for The Arts.

It is proposing to build a new Lakeland Forum at a figure of, it is believed, £53million, which will deliver the same type of building on the same site, and effectively close swimming and leisure activities for four years, meaning the end of the swimming club, and denying children and infants the chance to learn how to swim.

This decision will have to be looked at again, so call your local councillor.

As for the Chief Executive, we are still waiting for her vision of the future, and how she believes the area can grow and prosper. Without this, what is her function?

Finally, if you wish to hear as eloquent a plea for help for this county as you will ever hear, check out a speech which Mount Lourdes schoolgirl Grace Jackman made to a forum on NI2048 recently.

We must retain and encourage talent like hers. This is a county worth investing in.

Enjoy Christmas and the holiday season, and keep your family close.

Reggie Ferguson is an Enniskillen-based solicitor, and Chairman of the Save Our Acute Services health campaign group.